Does front of unibody vary for different models?

[mcibmw533]

I started tearing into the front end damage on my car (thanks p.o.) and it appears more extensive than I had originally thought/hoped. I should have the car ready to drop off at the shop by early next week and they will be able to tell me for sure... But I'm wondering for worst case scenario, if I have to chop off and weld on a new passenger front (basically from firewall forward), does the unibody change from coupe to sedan, 4 cyl to 6 cyl, or diving boards to plastic bumpers? Mine's a 1991 318is slicktop (the only reason I haven't scrapped it, yet). There's a diving board 4 door, '88 that's being parted near me, so it would be easy to chop it if everything lines up.

I'll post pics of the carnage on my profile post later today.

Thanks,
Micah

[bmwman91]

I would NEVER advocate chopping & welding a unibody frame car. I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but if the unibody is that badly damaged, then the car is totaled. It is unsafe to do that, illegal in most (probably all) states, and no insurance company would ever give you a policy if they knew.

What happened to the car? You would be better off trying to have the frame straightened rather than having a chop job done. Either way, you'll never get a good wheel alignment again, but at least if they bend the existing frame it will be safer. Chop jobs kill!

If it is just the fenders that are messed up, or even the front radiator/headlight housing...those are more or less bolt-ons. If the actual unibody is tweaked though, forget it & part the car out.

[DesktopDave]

+1 on straightening the frame. It'll be worth it down the road.

From what I've seen, the sedan and coupe facias are identical.  I'm told you can swap the front facia & bumper of a plastic bumper car directly onto a diving board car.  I don't know about the front quarters nor the hood though.  Pretty much all my e30s are/were sedans.  I have a spare sedan hood and front quarter if you want some measurements.

I'm not sure about the frame dimensions though.  Your body shop should be able to look that up.

[mcibmw533]

Thanks for the input. Based on my conversations with the shop, they're still fairly confident in their ability to put it on the rack and straighten the frame, but they won't know until it's in their shop (they're one of the top BMW repair shops in the Seattle area). The strut tower and frame rail appear OK (no major bends or creases), just out of alignment.  The strut tower is approximately 1.75-inches inward from letting me install my Sparco strut bar, which seems like a lot to me.

Below are links to a few photos (still can't upload to the board) showing the carnage after removal of the fender skin:eek:

I do know that I'll be needing a new core support:(

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y53/mcibmw533/1991%20318is%20project/IMG_7884.jpg
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y53/mcibmw533/1991%20318is%20project/IMG_7877.jpg
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y53/mcibmw533/1991%20318is%20project/IMG_7874.jpg
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y53/mcibmw533/1991%20318is%20project/IMG_7880.jpg

- Micah

[DesktopDave]

Ouch...those side hits are killers.  Your shop will have that top rail straight if it's possible.  Alignment is a problem up top, but it seems like the main (lower) frame rail is still good.  If that's pushed in, I'd write the car off.

[mcibmw533]

I just dropped the car off at the shop this morning.  We'll see what the word is.  I'll note progress in my profile thread.